Type-writing machine



{No Model.) a 3 Sheets-Sheet 1..

E. S. SHIMER.

A TYPE WRITING MACHINE. 110.461,988. Patented 0ot.2'7,1891,

(No ModelQ) 3 sheets-sheet 2. A E. S. SHIMER.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

' Patented Oct. 27,1891.

(No Model.) A 3 Sheets-Sheet; 3.

B. S. SHIMER.

TIPI: WRITING MACHINE.

NITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

ELMER S. SIIIMER, OF MILTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,988, dated October 27, 1891. Application iiled September S, 1890 Serial No.364,249. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELMER S. SHIMER, a citizen of the United States ot' America, residing at Milton, in the county of, Northumberland and State of Pennsylvania, havel invented new and useful Improvements in Type-Iriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to type-writing machines of that class carrying a number of type-bars pivotally mounted and arranged to strike at a common center against a platen moved across the machine in the direction of the printed line; and the Objectis to simplify the construction and improve the efficiency of machines now in the art and to this end myinvention consists in the mechanism `hereina-iter described for operating a certain number of type-bars through the agency of a single type-bar lever.

It also consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter specified, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

I accomplish the purposes and objects of my invention by the mechanism illustrated I in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a plan View of the platen-roll and type-bar frame. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same on theline 5c c of Fig. 1, wherein one of the type-bars is shown in normal position and one raised in striking position. i Fig. 3 is a front view, partially in section, showing the shifting-levers, the` type-bar pawls, and one of the key-levers. Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the machine. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective ot the pawl-ring, showing also the engagement of the shifting-levers therewith. Fig. 6 is a detail View of one of .the shitting-levers. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective of one of the hangers for supporting the pawlring.

In the drawings I have illustrated the machine (see Fig. et) as having mounted thereon an ordinary carriage carrying a roller-platen. To this part of the machine thepresent invention does not extend, except as associated in combination therewith. Any proper carriage with its adjuncts adapted to move across the machine with intermitting movement can be used, and for this reason the illustration and the description given hereinafter have not been made more specific.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the metallic trame, consisting of a shell orbox of such dimensions as to receive the various levers and operating mechanism essential to the manipulation and operation of the parts. This Trame is extended, as usual, in front to aord space for the key-board, as at l, and the 6o top is partially covered and provided. with an elongated opening 2, in which the lower portion of the platen-roller is arranged, substantially as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The carriage 3 is provided with sheaves traveling 65 on guide-rails 5, as usual, and in the carriagev is mounted the roller 6. On the under side of the top plate of the frame may be formed lugs 7 at such position and of such number as may be deemed essential, usually four, which 7o are provided with threaded sockets to take the screws which hold the brackets in place. To th ese lugs are secured brackets S by means of screws 9, as shown in Fig. 3 ot' the drawings. The brackets 8 are curved concentric with the 7 5 pawl-ring and formed with a groove 10 in their inner face to receive an exterior annular iiange of the pawl-ring.

B designates the pawl-ring, having an annular outer iiange 11 to engage the groove 10 8c of the brackets, in which it rests and shifts. On the inner face of the-pawl-ring may be formed two inwardly extending annular flanges 12 and 13, provided with aligning holes 14: and 15, in which the stems of the 85 pawls 16- are disposed and arranged therein to have a limited vertical reciprocating move* ment. The pawls, levers, or pull-rods 16 cousist of small metal rods having their upper ends 17 struck at right angles to the stems 9o and formed at their lower ends to connect with the upper end of connecti1igrods 1S, jointed to the proper type-lever. rPhe back plate of the frame is formed with a series of vertically-arranged slots l0, corresponding to the number of key-levers required or used, and in the upper end of these slots the key* levers are pivotally supported. The keylevers (l consist ot a metal bar 20, provided with a push or finger piece 2l at the keyroo board, and are formed with a vertically-extending arm 22, the upper end of which is pivotally supported in the slot in .the rear plate or Wall of the frame, as at 23, and are also formed with a downward-extending heel part 24. To return the key-levers C to their normal position after depression to strike the type, I arrange a spring in seats 26, one end of the spring being arranged in the seat and the other abutting against t-he heel portion of the key-lever, as seen in Fig. 4. To prevent the key-levers from moving upward beyond the required distance, a cross-piece 27 is arranged across the front of the machine and to the rear cf the key-board. It is also apparent if the stem of the pawls is lengthened so as to be immediately connected to the key-levers that the pawl-ring may have but one inner annular liange instead of two. The lower end of the pawl being connected directly to the key-lever will afford sufficient guide and stay to insure the vertical reciprocations of the pawls without sticking or undue friction.

D D designate the shit tin g-levers, pivbtally supported at their inner ends, as at 28, and formed with a vertical arm 29, having a notch or shoulder 3Q in the end, in which notch or shoulder the pin 3l on the outer face of the pawl-ring sets or rests, as seen in Fig. 5. By depressing one of the shifting-levers the pawlring is drawn or shifted accordingly and in position such that the pawl will engage a type-bar brought opposite to it. The other shifting-lever produces a similar movement of the pawl-ring, but will draw the ring so as to present a different type-bar for engagement with the pawl. To return the pawl-ring to its normal position in the machine, a pin 32 may be fixed in it, and to this pin one end of a retracting spring 33 is fastened, while the other end of the spring is anchored to some part of the machine-frame. The depression of the shifting-levers is limited by a stop 34, of any suitable kind, placed to intercept them.

E designates a stationary basket or typebar ring secured in place in the machineframe by means of screws 35 let into lugs on the top plate of the frame. This type-ring consists of a cylinder havinga thickened portion 36 around its upper end, as shown in the drawings, and in this portion are formed the requisite number of vertically-arranged and radially-directed type-bar slots 37. The cylinder is extended downward below the typebar slots, as at 38, constitutinga skirting and serving as a support for the stems of the typebars. The type-bar slots extend only partly around the type-bar ring at the front and rear of the ring, there being Vacant spaces 39 between the slotted sections of the ring carrying thetype-bar. type-bar ring is formed an annular groove 40, in which a bearing-rod 4l is secured, and on which the type-bars are pivotally supported. This bearing or pivotal support is directly in line with a point in the face of the platen-roller indicated by the lower ter- In the outer face of the' mination of the vertical radius of the platenroller, so that the face of the type, the lowest portion of the platen-roller, and the pivot of the type-bars are on a horizontal line. This disposition of the parts gives a square and true contact with the type on the paper and results in a clean impression.

F designates the' type-bars, consisting of, small bars carrying a character on the type end and {iattened at their upper end to fit in the type-bar slots of the type-ring. Each one is provided with an aperture in the flattened part, through which the bearingrod 4l is passed, and when all are arranged on the rod, the rod is clamped in the groove 40 and they are in position. The type-bar slots are radially arranged in the type-bar ring, so that all the type-bars strike' in the direction of the center and to acommon. point. The heel or upper end of the type-bars is formed with a recess or notch 42, which is engaged by the projecting part of the pawl. The type-bars are guided in their stroke and retained in alignment by means of the walls of the typebar slots in the ring, which, being` thickened at this point, is specially adapted to prevent uncertainty in the point struck by any typebar.

By the arrangement of the parts a machine may be made smaller than those of similar styles on the market. The type-bars are materially shortened, and thus given a shorter sweep or stroke without losing any effectiveness, and thekey-levers really reduced in number. Additional sweep to the shift of the pawl-ring would further reduce the number of levers necessary;

The machine normally is adjusted to print lower-case characters, the change to capitals and special characters being accomplished by means of the shifting-levers moving the pawl-ring to present the heel of the proper type to be struck. This change is made by depressing one of the shifting-levers, which is arranged to pull the pa'wl-ring a determined distance to present the type-bars carrying capitals for engagement with the pawls. The push-bar of the proper type is then struck and the impression made. On release of the pressure on the push-bar the type-bar lever returns to its normal position, and on the release of the shifting-lever the spring returns the pawl-ring to primary position. If a special character is required to be made, the other shifting -lever is depressed and the pawl-ring moved to its position, the type struck, and the return made, he only difference being that the pawl-ring is shifted to different positions in the different movements.

By reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings it will be perceived that the outer projection of the heel of the type-bar when at rest and depending is on a line j ust below the under face of the pawls, so that the pawls when shifted will not strike the heels of the typebars. The other projection of the heel lodges on the top of the pawl when the bar is lifted IOO IIO

IIS

to Contact the platen, and thus the blow is softer and the type made to last longer. The top of this projection on the pawl also aids to quickly return the type-bar to normal position.

Having thus described my invention, stated its principles, and so specified it as to distingush it from other inventions in the art, I noW particularly point out and distinctly state the parts and combinations Which I claim, as follows:

l. In a typewriting machine, the combination, with the type-carrying cylinder andthe type-bars therein, of a horizontal shifting ring supported exterior of the cylinder, paWls in said ring adapted to detachably engage and lift the type-bars in the cylinder, levers to shift the ring, whereby diderent type-bars are lifted by the pawls, and levers to draw In a type-Writing machine, the combination of the machine-frame formed With vertically-arranged slots in its rear Wall, key-le- Vers having upwardly-extended arms plvoted in the slots, a type-bar cylinder having an upper portion provided with radial slots, type-bars pivoted in the said slots, a shifting ring, pawls in the shifting ring, having connection to the key-levers, and levers to shift the ring, all substantially as described.

4. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of the frame provided with brackets having grooves in their inner faces, a pawlring having an exterior annular liange to engage the groove of the brackets and formed with an interior annular flange having apertures, pawls in the apertures, levers for moving the pawls, and levers for shifting the ring, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my vhand in the presence of two att-esting witnesses. v

t ELINIER. S. SHIMER.

' Witnesses:

A. G. HEYLMUN, J. S. BARKER. 

